Britain is in the firing line for yet another violent storm to unleash chaos next weekend.

Forecasters have warned the entire country to be on alert for 80mph gales and torrential downpours.

A deep low pressure system is currently swirling over the Atlantic and heading straight for our shores.

Forecasters warned Britons to expect a "Valentine's Day massacre" as the frenzied storm rips into the UK on Friday night.

Weather models show a system even worse than this weekend's 'Storm Charlie', which tore across parts of the country, is forming in the Atlantic and on a direct course for Britain.

It comes as shocking new video footage emerged of reckless members of the public standing just INCHES from a cliff edge near Sennan, Cornwall as hurricane force 11 gales lashed the coast on Saturday.

The intense storm system is on course to crash into Britain next weekend pummeling regions already in flood crisis including Somerset and Berkshire, where today the Thames was threatening to burst its banks.

Waves of more than 50 feet will threaten southern coasts as the low pressure drags a colossal 'sea swell' towards land.Forecasters warned next week's 'major event' will be the third fresh Atlantic depression to hit this week after a big storm hits western Britain overnight tonight with another violent spell of weather due on Wednesday.

The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday and warned of the risk of further flooding because of the relentless storms.It added: "Another area of low pressure and its associated fronts are likely to affect the UK during Monday night and Tuesday, bringing a further spell of heavy rain and strong winds, particularly to southern areas.

"Further spells of rain, heavy at times, and accompanied by strong winds are possible during Monday night and Tuesday.

"The public should be aware of the risk of further disruption due to flooding."

Yesterday, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles admitted the Government made a "mistake" in not dredging rivers to prevent flooding, but blamed the Environment Agency for providing poor advice.

Mr Pickles, who has taken temporary charge of the response to the crisis, issued an unreserved apology to those affected in the Somerset Levels.

Repeated calls for dredging were made to Downing Street and other Whitehall departments by farmers and others in the region from at least six months ago, but funding was declined.

"We made a mistake, there's no doubt about that and we perhaps relied too much on the Environment Agency's advice," Mr Pickles told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show.

Mr Pickles has criticised under-fire Environment Agency chairman, Lord Smith, for refusing to say sorry for the failures when he was besieged by angry locals on visit to the area.

Most at risk are communities near the River Thames, the Severn and the Dorset Stour although all of the south is still on alert.

Pete Fox, head of strategy and Investment at the EA said: "The weather continues to be hugely challenging, with further wind and waves threatening the south west coast and even more rain threatening to cause flooding along rivers across the south west, central and southern England.

"Environment Agency teams continue to work around the clock in difficult conditions, to protect homes, communities and land.

"We urge people to stay safe and not to walk or drive through flood water which can be dangerous and to take care near coastal paths and promenades for fear of being swept away."

South Wales and the south-west were the first areas hit by Storm Charlie as it ripped into Britain on Saturday.

A 70-year-old woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a tree fell onto a car in Yardley, Birmingham.

Transport operators in the West Country were forced to put on replacement bus services after the entire railway network was cut off and flooding between Taunton and Bridgwater in omerset forced all mainline routes from London to be closed.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles chaired the latest emergency COBRA meeting.

He said: "An additional 1,600 military personal are now on standby across the south and can be deployed rapidly if required.

"Flood ambassadors from the Environment Agency are on the ground across the country, including the Thames Valley, to offer help and practical advice to the public about the further bad weather expected."

Official figures show last month was the wettest January since 1766 and that this winter has seen the worst prolonged weather in 250 years.